THQ Reels in 2000 with Huge New Lineup

Gone are the days when THQ made puny little announcements about fishing and bowling games (please forgive us, Bass fans). Nowadays when THQ announces something, it's an ear bender. Today, the Calabasas, Ca.-based publisher went farther than any other publisher has gone this year by announcing a huge, far-reaching, next-generation lineup that ranges from RPGs to wrestling to skateboarding games and then some.

For us die-hard PlayStation and PlayStation2 fans, THQ's power-packed 2000 lineup is a real gem, featuring the ambitious new RPG, Summoner, created by PC developer Volition; the new round of MTV extreme games, including MTV Sports: Skateboarding and a new snowboarding game; and the next of the WWF wrestling series as well as a PlayStation2 WWF title. But those are just our favorites. The rest of the lineup is just as powerful.

WWF Smackdown, PlayStation2 WWF, and New PS WWF Due this fall, THQ and Yukes bring gamers what looks to be the best wrestling game on the PlayStation, WWF SmackDown. But don't loose your cookies all just yet, kiddies. Another WWF title is due by the end of this year on PlayStation (fall 2000), AND THQ confirmed today its plans for a WWF version for PlayStation2! Ping! THQ would not confirm the new title's name, developer, engine, how many players, or any major differences, but hey, at least they announced it.

Evil Dead: Ashes to Ashes THQ subsidiary Heavy Iron Studios this fall will bring Evil Dead to PlayStation, Dreamcast and PC. Based on Renaissance Pictures' Evil Dead movies, Evil Dead: Ashes to Ashes is a Resident Evil-style adventure that boasts fast-loading times, a storyline that coincides with the cult-horror films, and lots of gushing blood and guts. Nothing better than a little zombie thrashing all night long, right? Expect to use the chainsaw for some choice cuts.

Summoner From the PC developers Volition (Descent and Descent Freespace), THQ brings PlayStation, PC and Mac gamers a huge, unique role-playing game based on a mythical land of adventurers and the pitfalls and obstacles that stand in their way. Due at launch of the PlayStation2, Summoner looks to be a simultaneous release with the PC version, and should be identical in many ways. Make sure to check out our huge preview.

MTV Sports After its first -- and relatively good -- snowboard title, THQ continues the MTV Sports lineup with two new "extreme" sports, a skateboarding game, and a BMX biking game. MTV Sports: Skateboarding (temporary title) enables gamers to pull off tricks, listen to contemporary bands and play as the biggest names in the sport. "Skateboarding" is due this summer.

MTV Sports: BMX racing is also making its way to PlayStation, the new system for "extreme" sports. In development for fall 2000 release, this mysterious BMX-style racer is coming to PlayStation, Dreamcast, PC and Game Boy Color.

Last but not least, THQ is hard at work on another snowboarding game, temporarily called MTV Sports: Snowboarding 2, due this fall.

Championship Motocross 2 Featuring Ricky Carmichael Due fall 2000, Championship Motocross 2 follows the first's big success, and will include more of everything the first delivered and then some. All the licenses, riders, tracks, tricks and intense control and speed will return, along with more real riders, bigger licenses, more modes of play, and well...more more!

Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue Coinciding with the seventh year of the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers TV show, this fall THQ will roll out an action-adventure game starring the cheesy, space suit-clad teens known to you and me as the Power Rangers. Oh now, watch out for those dangerous Putties, dude! Get ready for the two-minute Zord transformations, Bobby! Though asked, THQ could not reveal the developer, how many people could play the game, or anything else. Could the wait be any more painful?

Nickelodeon's Rugrats in Paris What can we say about this? The kids game that turned THQ into a mega-co is now not surprisingly seeing a new wrinkle in its staid formula. Named Rugrats in Paris, the new game coincides with the upcoming fall 2000 release of the movie by the same name. Starring Angelica, Tommy, Phil and Lil, Chuckie, and the rest Rugrats in Paris should please yuppie families scared of tainting their kids with Metal Gear Solid, Driver, and the Resident Evils of the world.